UK Prosecutors Charge DJ With Assault

LONDON (AP) - A prominent British disc jockey has been charged with 11 counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault, authorities said Thursday, for offenses that allegedly occurred over a period of 30 years.

DJ Dave Lee Travis - whose real name is David Patrick Griffin - was arrested in November as part of a wide-ranging police inquiry that began by looking into allegations against the late Jimmy Savile, a BBC TV host suspected of abusing hundreds of underage girls.

British prosecutors on Thursday said they decided to charge the DJ with the 12 counts dating from 1977 to 2007, and related to eight women and one teenager who were between the ages of 15 and 29 at the times of the alleged assaults.

Travis, 68, has denied any wrongdoing, and his lawyer said Thursday that the DJ is "naturally disappointed" by the decision to file charges.

"We will be taking stock of the position in the coming weeks once we have full details of the prosecution case," lawyer Martin Bale said. "Travis denies the allegations and looks forward to having the opportunity to clear his name."

He is best known for his nearly 30-year career with the BBC: a long stint on BBC Radio 1, a presenter of Top of the Pops on BBC TV, and a long-running radio show on the BBC World Service. Travis recently was DJ'ing a weekend show on Magic AM, but following his arrest, Bauer Media said it was suspending the show until the investigation was resolved.

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